I've used wikispaces in my high school science classes - specifically Environmental Science.  Each week, a pair of students in the class post a link to an article on the web of interest to them (only parameter - had to be something that affects the environment, or be about a species).  The students then started a discussion thread about the article, where they posted their thoughts on the topic, and why they thought the article was important.  Other students in the class then had a week to post a response to at least one of the articles.  Once the students got used to using the wiki, they seemed to enjoy posting articles and responses.  I would occasionally post an article of interest, if discussion seemed slow tha week.

For the past 2 years (going on three) a teacher from another state and I have grouped our students to do literature circles through a wiki using the same novel for both classes.  It has gone very well but we have had some learning experiences!  This year we are adding a 3rd classroom from another state.  I also have my own classroom wiki that my students use to complete assignments/projects.  I don't use it as a "teacher page" like a lot of teachers do.  I also have students blog almost daily.  Last year I paired each of my students with a teacher education student from a local college in order to encourage my students to improve their writing on the blogs.  It also helped the college students to experience how 5th graders really write!  Those are just a few of the ways that I use 2.0 in the classroom/curriculum.

Hi!

I use many Web 2.0 tools in my classroom. I will list them with a brief description after each one. If you have further questions please just ask.

First, I work in a high poverty -- no budget -- limited resources distric ina  middle school for grades 5-8. I have to be the Queen of Free.The items below are all free. Beware that sometimes freebies become a fee service especially if the item is free during beta and they go live with it. So try to keep up with the site and any news about tha if you are using it extensively. I have not had a problem yet but . . ! I use all the items below and would be happy to discuss any of them more indepth via the message center or this discussion thread.

1) I use Xtranormal at www.xtranormal.com

There are two versions. We use the online not downloaded one in school. Many students have also gone home and downloaded the State Beta.

This site allows students to create a background and avatars complete with gestures, expressions and camera angles. They can then write a script that will be rendered into dialogue that the avatars speak. Highly motivating for learning to write dialogue, writing in general, phonemic awareness and creating a corrected finished project. One hint: I have the students write the script pieces in Word or another software that had a spell and grammar checker, then copy and paste the text into Xtranormal. Also, students will need an account which does require an email address.

2) I use wikispaces. I use them to provide a place for teachers to communicate following professional development and I use them with students. I teach in a computer lab as my classroom but also run a writing center in the same space. I currently use my wikis for the peer writing tutors to have a space to introduce themselves, I have another Wiki where students can exchange and discuss books and book reviews,  and also have just started a Wiki writing space at the request of students who wanted a place to share their writing and get feedback from peers.  You can see these wikis at www.wikispaces.com\WMSCaughtReading  and www.wikispaces.com\WMSCaughtWriting They are protected sites. You may read the postings but would have to request to join the wiki prior to being able to post. The reading one is popular and has been used for over a year. The writing one is brand new and I don't expect much traffic until school begins again. I have alerts sent to me via email so I know when there is a new posting. I monitor for appropriate content but do not require approval prior to posting. Ihave also found that soliciting the help of my poorer readers to monitor for innappropriate content is a great way to get them to practice their reading skills.

3) I use www.mycalendar.com for scheduling of my computer lab when there are no classes, as well as other labs and programs in the building. It is free. Students can use this for club schedules, sports schedules etc.

4) My students use Scratch. This is a program designed by MIT Graduate Students. It allows students to do basic programming utilizing programming blocks that fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Most of my students work on this both at home and in school and use a flashdrive to transport the work. (Keep in mind I do not assign homework, they do this because they want to do this.) Simple programs havelillustrated jokes and riddles, more complicated programs have varied. One example is the creation of a Pac-man style game that included the icon that eats the dots with an automatic scoring function and an end to the session if the icon crashes into a wall. Scratch can be found at http://scratch.mit.edu There are also alot of chat spaces and blogs for discussion of programs. exchange of ideas and help. The help menus within the program are very user friendly.

5)  http://marvel.com/create_your_own_superhero and http://www.ugo.com/games/superhero-generator-heromachine-2-5 are both places that students can create their own super heroes. I use these as an accompaniment for story writing.

6) www.wallwisher.com is a board that allows short postings in response to a question, comment, storystarter, a posted image etc.  It does not require an email to sign up. (though if you do need emails for students you can use EPals or GoogleMail) With this webware I DO use the setting requiring approvals prior to posting.

7) Wordle at www.wordle.net allows you to take a piece of writing and have it made into a visual poster that shows the word use in a cloud formposter  with a visual emphasis pattern that shows how often the words are used. You have to play with it, but it is helpful for identifying main ideas, etc. It is also a great graphic. this is especailly helpful for students who need to identify words that are overused and find alternatives.

8) I also use Audacity. This is found at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/  This webware allows you to record music, mix it and edit it. It is great for creating radio shows, short music mixes, sound effects, etc. We use it to record soundtrack/narrations to go with presentations  (like PowerPoint). We also use it for radio commercials when students create their own product and then set up a marketing campaign for them.

9) www.prezi.com allows you to create video presentations. The results are incredible and the learning opportunities are endless.

10) Ipadio at www.ipadio.com allows you to broadcast onto the internet live by using any telephone including a cell phone.

I'll stop here but perhaps this will help you with some ideas.

Here are some of the social networking tools I use in my classroom:

• Edmodo - This is a social networking site for Educational purposes. It's open source and secure. Here's a vidoe that I think explains what the site is all about.

• Another site I use (used) quite extensively is google apps. I create the accounts beforehand and keep track of passwords. I begin with the students creating an igoogle page. Later I have them create a website. Then I move on to working on group projects in the google docs part of the apps. I would like to use google reader this year.
• Prezi is another web 2.0 tool that I use in the classroom and try to integrate with one of the main subjects areas. They alos offer an educational license but the students need a school email account which can be supplied if you use google apps.
• I am using awesome highlighter this year as students work on projects as a research tool. This enables the students to locate information and hoghlight it. Later they can access the highlighted page and work from there.
• LiveBinders - this is also an effective webtool for reaserch. You can have students us this for reaserch as they find information for a research project.
• I use wordpress personally for my classrooms blogs.sdebbie.wordpress.com
• I have also used social bookmarking sites like delicious but I may be using diigo this year.

I am taking a wonderful course online from Thinkfinity and am wondernig if I might have the students in grade 8 sign up for an account. I think there's a lot of potential with this site.

S Debbie